---
type: api
title: Stop the watch service
description: Stop the Watcher service if it is running.
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4493/api/doc/elasticsearch/v8/operation/operation-watcher-stop
resource: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4493/api/doc/elasticsearch/v8/operation/operation-watcher-stop
products:
  - Elasticsearch
---

# Stop the watch service

## Paths

- `POST` `/_watcher/_stop`

## Description

Stop the Watcher service if it is running.

## Required authorization

- Cluster privileges: `manage_watcher`

## Authentication

- Api key: `Authorization: <value>`
  Elasticsearch APIs support key-based authentication.
  You must create an API key and use the encoded value in the request header.
  For example:
  
  
  ```
  curl -X GET "${ES_URL}/_cat/indices?v=true" \
    -H "Authorization: ApiKey ${API_KEY}"
  ```
  
  To get API keys, use the `/_security/api_key` APIs.
- Basic: `Authorization: Basic <credentials>`
- Bearer: `Authorization: Bearer <token>`
  Elasticsearch APIs support the use of bearer tokens in the `Authorization` HTTP header to authenticate with the API.
  For examples, refer to [Token-based authentication services](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/token-authentication-services.html)

## Query string parameters

- `master_timeout` (string · default: 30s) — optional
  The period to wait for the master node.
If the master node is not available before the timeout expires, the request fails and returns an error.
To indicate that the request should never timeout, set it to `-1`.

## Response

`application/json`

- `acknowledged` (boolean)
  For a successful response, this value is always true. On failure, an exception is returned instead.
## Code examples

#### Console

```console
POST _watcher/_stop
```

#### JavaScript

```javascript
const response = await client.watcher.stop();
```

#### Python

```python
resp = client.watcher.stop()
```

#### curl

```curl
curl -X POST "$ELASTICSEARCH_URL/_watcher/_stop" \
  -H "Authorization: ApiKey $ELASTIC_API_KEY"
```

#### Java

```java
client.watcher().stop(s -> s);
```

#### PHP

```php
$resp = $client->watcher()->stop();
```

#### Ruby

```ruby
response = client.watcher.stop
```

## Response examples

#### Watcher stop response example1

A successful response from `POST _watcher/_stop`.

```json
{
  "acknowledged": true
}
```